Cost of Living Comparison Between Beirut and Hamra Cost of Living Comparison Between Beirut and Hamra

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,390 in Beirut versus $881 in Hamra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,293 in Beirut versus $1,391 in Hamra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,195 in Beirut versus $1,901 in Hamra.

Living in Beirut is roughly 58% more expensive than in Hamra, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Beirut is 4% above, Hamra is 34% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beirut
Hamra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.63 LBP 951.4K
$10.86 LBP 972.3K
-2.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.8 LBP 5.4M
$60.7 LBP 5.4M
-1.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.84 LBP 701.7K
$7.98 LBP 714.6K
-1.75%
Cappuccino
$3.32 LBP 296.7K
$3.43 LBP 306.9K
-3.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 LBP 140.7K
$1.59 LBP 142.2K
-1.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 LBP 77.7K
$0.92 LBP 82.1K
-5.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.48 LBP 311.5K
$3.59 LBP 321.3K
-3.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.95 LBP 442.9K
$4.87 LBP 435.6K
1.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beirut
Hamra
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 LBP 158.6K
$1.80 LBP 161.0K
-1.67%
White Bread (500g)
$0.79 LBP 70.8K
$0.85 LBP 75.7K
-7.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.82 LBP 162.5K
$1.84 LBP 164.6K
-1.09%
Eggs
$3.10 LBP 277.8K
$3.21 LBP 287.2K
-3.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.08 LBP 992.0K
$11.49 LBP 1.0M
-3.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.37 LBP 838.3K
$9.49 LBP 849.2K
-1.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.46 LBP 1.0M
$11.44 LBP 1.0M
0.17%
Apples (1kg)
$1.74 LBP 155.9K
$1.78 LBP 159.4K
-2.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 LBP 130.0K
$1.47 LBP 131.9K
-1.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.14 LBP 102.2K
$1.15 LBP 102.7K
-0.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.05 LBP 94.1K
$1.09 LBP 97.3K
-3.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.00 LBP 89.1K
$1.01 LBP 90.1K
-0.99%
Onion (1kg)
$1.04 LBP 93.4K
$1.05 LBP 93.7K
-0.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 LBP 79.8K
$0.81 LBP 72.9K
9.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 LBP 47.2K
$0.52 LBP 46.2K
1.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52 LBP 225.9K
$2.54 LBP 226.9K
-0.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.18 LBP 911.3K
$9.85 LBP 881.7K
3.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 LBP 116.1K
$1.28 LBP 114.9K
1.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 LBP 190.2K
$2.21 LBP 197.8K
-3.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Beirut
Hamra
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.97 LBP 176.1K
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$71.1 LBP 6.4M
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.95 LBP 442.8K
$5.06 LBP 452.5K
-2.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.26 LBP 113.2K
$1.28 LBP 114.3K
-1.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.02 LBP 1.8M
$20.08 LBP 1.8M
-0.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.93 LBP 83.3K
$0.90 LBP 80.5K
3.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9K LBP 3.1B
$34.8K LBP 3.1B
0.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0K LBP 2.5B
$28.3K LBP 2.5B
-1.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beirut
Hamra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$217 LBP 19.4M
$215 LBP 19.2M
0.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.42 LBP 3.3M
$38.24 LBP 3.4M
-2.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.20 LBP 3.3M
$37.73 LBP 3.4M
-1.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beirut
Hamra
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.3 LBP 6.1M
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.66 LBP 2.7M
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.83 LBP 700.5K
$7.87 LBP 704.8K
-0.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beirut
Hamra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 LBP 27.3M
$306 LBP 27.4M
-0.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,511 LBP 403.7M
$4,500 LBP 402.7M
0.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beirut
Hamra
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.7 LBP 6.2M
$69.8 LBP 6.3M
-0.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.73 LBP 4.0M
$44.95 LBP 4.0M
-0.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 LBP 10.9M
$125 LBP 11.2M
-2.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.7 LBP 8.5M
$96.3 LBP 8.6M
-1.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beirut
Hamra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$789 LBP 70.6M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 LBP 33.7M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,956 LBP 175.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$970 LBP 86.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,944 LBP 352.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,952 LBP 174.7M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beirut
Hamra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$715 LBP 64.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.16
11.16
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Beirut: July 12, 2026

Last update for Hamra: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $60.0 in Beirut vs $61.0 in Hamra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $236 per month, with Beirut cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Beirut vs Hamra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hamra cheaper than Beirut?
Hamra is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 58% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,085 in Beirut and $1,321 in Hamra to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do food prices compare in Beirut and in Hamra?
Shoppers in Beirut pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Beirut and in Hamra?
All in, you'll spend $1,390 per month in Beirut versus $881 in Hamra – a 58% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Beirut or in Hamra?
At $881 in Hamra versus $1,390 in Beirut, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Hamra but tight or insufficient in Beirut. The gap between the two cities makes Hamra the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Beirut or Hamra more family-friendly?
For families, Hamra is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Beirut, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Hamra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Beirut. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Beirut vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities